Darrel Fitton returns with his second album this year, following up the sublime ‘Fyuti’ LP released under the Bola guise for Skam with this debut full-length under the Jello moniker. This is mesmerising stuff from Fitton, retaining the slick production for which Bola is so well known, while throwing in open spaces and influences derived from Jazz, Classical and Hip Hop arrangements. Head for ‘Neph’, the second of two Piano-led pieces offered here and possibly Fitton’s most accomplished track to date, the same Grand Piano line that adorned the Autechre remix included on the Chimchamchimzee 12” gets coated in hazy strings before a densely tweaked beat floods in and envelops it’s surroundings. Quite easily one of the most atmospheric pieces we’ve heard this year. Or then again on ‘Shinoque’, melted Rhodes keys shimmer alongside whirring machinations and alien spaces, allowing widescreen dimensions for (long time Bola collaborator) Dennis Bourne to inject his slowly delivered narrative to perefction. What manages to elevate ‘Viole’ to true greatness, however, is the dense glimpse of unease that accompannies this album from beginning to end. The precision of sound and composition savvy at this level finding contrast with Fitton’s dark understructures, a kind of harmonic beauty that’s built on deconstruction and unease. More aesthetically soothing and organic than Bola material, this is a devastating electronic album of truly classic proportions, much like its predecessor on Skam. Essential Purchase.
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Darrel Fitton returns with his second album this year, following up the sublime ‘Fyuti’ LP released under the Bola guise for Skam with this debut full-length under the Jello moniker. This is mesmerising stuff from Fitton, retaining the slick production for which Bola is so well known, while throwing in open spaces and influences derived from Jazz, Classical and Hip Hop arrangements. Head for ‘Neph’, the second of two Piano-led pieces offered here and possibly Fitton’s most accomplished track to date, the same Grand Piano line that adorned the Autechre remix included on the Chimchamchimzee 12” gets coated in hazy strings before a densely tweaked beat floods in and envelops it’s surroundings. Quite easily one of the most atmospheric pieces we’ve heard this year. Or then again on ‘Shinoque’, melted Rhodes keys shimmer alongside whirring machinations and alien spaces, allowing widescreen dimensions for (long time Bola collaborator) Dennis Bourne to inject his slowly delivered narrative to perefction. What manages to elevate ‘Viole’ to true greatness, however, is the dense glimpse of unease that accompannies this album from beginning to end. The precision of sound and composition savvy at this level finding contrast with Fitton’s dark understructures, a kind of harmonic beauty that’s built on deconstruction and unease. More aesthetically soothing and organic than Bola material, this is a devastating electronic album of truly classic proportions, much like its predecessor on Skam. Essential Purchase.
Darrel Fitton returns with his second album this year, following up the sublime ‘Fyuti’ LP released under the Bola guise for Skam with this debut full-length under the Jello moniker. This is mesmerising stuff from Fitton, retaining the slick production for which Bola is so well known, while throwing in open spaces and influences derived from Jazz, Classical and Hip Hop arrangements. Head for ‘Neph’, the second of two Piano-led pieces offered here and possibly Fitton’s most accomplished track to date, the same Grand Piano line that adorned the Autechre remix included on the Chimchamchimzee 12” gets coated in hazy strings before a densely tweaked beat floods in and envelops it’s surroundings. Quite easily one of the most atmospheric pieces we’ve heard this year. Or then again on ‘Shinoque’, melted Rhodes keys shimmer alongside whirring machinations and alien spaces, allowing widescreen dimensions for (long time Bola collaborator) Dennis Bourne to inject his slowly delivered narrative to perefction. What manages to elevate ‘Viole’ to true greatness, however, is the dense glimpse of unease that accompannies this album from beginning to end. The precision of sound and composition savvy at this level finding contrast with Fitton’s dark understructures, a kind of harmonic beauty that’s built on deconstruction and unease. More aesthetically soothing and organic than Bola material, this is a devastating electronic album of truly classic proportions, much like its predecessor on Skam. Essential Purchase.